And So It Begins...

Your unwavering support has choked me with emotion. 

True Believers comes out next week, and Mistress Of The Stone is in the middle of competition over at RT Reviews. Through it all, you guys have been cheering me, supporting me, and giving me a well-deserved boot to the butt when I needed it.

I hope I'm not missing anyone, but I wanted to recognize the people who've been so kind. Maya Reynolds and Suzanne McLeod wrote wonderful posts about me and the Brava contest. Mike Keyton, that sly devil posted a cryptic mention of True Believers. Dru, Jenny Schwartz, and Marianne Arkins have given me nice mentions on their blogs. KS Augustin has been tweeting me (and keeping me from opening a vein). LOL. And dear, sweet Jackie Burris of Housewife Blues and Chihuahua Stories has been posting and tweeting my praises not only for Mistress Of The Stone, but also for True Believers.

I can't even begin to list all the names of people who have wished me well, here, on other blogs, and on my forums. It's been overwhelming to say the least. 

All I can say is thank you. I am very lucky to call you friends.

***

I have two pieces of news today.

I received my first official review for True Believers from Bitten By Paranormal Romance. I was so nervous, I was afraid to read it.

Not only did the reviewer give it their highest rating (5 Howls) she writes:


Phenomenal Writing! Excellent Read!

...Rachel and Taelen’s romance is so sweet and sexy. The sex scenes are very tasteful, not your hard core erotica but leaves you with one hell of an image to think about especially with Taelen’s extra tentacles he has around his large staff. The one scene in the bath pool about drove me crazy. Absolutely loved it!

I loved the action between the new Artificial Intelligence Bubba (computer program technology come to life) and his sister FAIA (newer model computer technology with updated programs). To weave the web based world and its advanced military programming within this story was pure brilliance.

All the characters were wonderfully developed and the book flowed beautifully. I was so entranced and felt like I was there living it all in color.


I almost fainted. Thank you, Ronda!

***
The next piece of news is that I hope you'll go over to Mia Marlowe's blog where she is graciously hosting me for the day. I talk a little about my mentor, Terri Brisbin, and share a very short excerpt that I think describes the hero and heroine from Mistress Of The Stone to a T. (Let me know what you think!)

Over at Mia's I'll be asking you a personal question. If you were a mentor, what experience would you share? Everyone has an expertise. What's yours? 

Will you stop by and visit me over there? It's a new place and I don't want to be all by myself. LOL! 

See you at Mia's!

Comments

Taryn Kincaid said…
Wow! Best of luck in the contest!
Maria Zannini said…
Taryn: That pretty much sums up my reaction. LOL. Thanks!
Joanne said…
What a very exciting time for you! Congrats on the great review, wishing you many more. I'm headed over to Mia's now ...
Kim said…
I cast my vote and congratulations on an awesome review!!!
Maria Zannini said…
Thanks, Joanne! Off to see what you wrote.
Dru said…
Good luck in the contest and great review. True Belivers is really peaking my interest.
Sarah Ahiers said…
ooh, that is a great review! Congrats!
Maria Zannini said…
@Dru
@Sarah

Thanks, guys. I was utterly shocked. I kept rereading it because I didn't believe it. :)
Meghan S. said…
Congrats on the fabulous review!!!! Heading over to Mia's blog now...
Maria Zannini said…
Thanks, Meghan. I'll go over and take a look.
Sherri said…
Wonderful review! Fingers are itching to get the book!
Maria Zannini said…
Sherri: You don't know how sweet those words are. Thanks.
Unknown said…
Great review. Hope you get many more similar ones.
Shelley Munro said…
Congrats on the wonderful review. I look forward to your book. :)
Maria Zannini said…
@Kay
@Shelley

It's getting close now. I am already feeling chest pains. LOL.
DEZMOND said…
wow, Maria, congrats on the book coming out soon and on that great review, wait till the reviews start coming in great numbers, you will faint constantly :)))
Maria Zannini said…
Dez: LOL. I better keep smelling salts around then.
Jackie said…
Maria how wonderful that you are having such a turn out of support, did you worry you wouldn't? If so why, we are all here for you and after reading your first two books I WANT MORE out there and want so badly for others to fall in love with your vivid imagination as well! The review from Ronda is just what I expected and the funny thing is she only lives 25 miles from me, how is that for a small world!

Mistress of Stone is going to promote the same reaction when we get to read the entire book! (I know we are!!!)

jackie >_<
BTW am still not done with tooting about TB yet, lots of people have promised me this week that they are looking forward to reading it themselves!
Maria Zannini said…
Jackie: It's just been overwhelming.

Authors are notorious for asking for support. We have to have it to create buzz, but I know too well that it's asking a lot of readers to take time out of their day to comment, tweet or talk about a book to other readers.

I don't begrudge anyone for not commenting, but in the same vein, I feel so blessed when people do.

It's a huge gift on the part of people who comment. And I don't take it lightly.

Thanks, Jackie. I really appreciate you.
Kaz Augustin said…
Brilliant brilliant review, M, and well deserved!! Now ::rubbing hands together:: onto that Brava thing.
Maria Zannini said…
Kaz: I was shocked. Truly.

The first review is always the scariest.

Not that I expect all reviews to go that well, but at least I know one person liked it. :)

SFR is such a tricky thing. It has to catch just the right audience.

Sooner or later I'll end up with someone who doesn't get it, but that's okay. It all evens out in the end.
James Garcia Jr said…
Maria, congrats on the review. I'm sorry I haven't been blogging as much as I would like, but have been-just like everybody else-so darned busy. Take care and good luck to you. Keep us posted...
-Jimmy
Ellie Garratt said…
What a fantastic review! Congratulations. You certainly deserve it.
Anonymous said…
Good luck with the contest and a superfantabulous congrats on the first review! Awesomeness!!!
Maria Zannini said…
James: And I thought you were Superman. I am so disappointed. :grin:

Ellie: (blushes) Thanks!